Some impish spirit suggested to me the idea of making a mother much younger than her daughter, that is, a very flighty ordinary woman, impulsive and feather-brained, with a mania for attending sales and collecting odds and ends at bargain prices.

Full of this idea I wrote the first act off hand.
Mrs.Patrick Campbell did not like it much, and in this, as indeed always, showed excellent judgment and an extraordinary understanding of the requirements of the stage; nevertheless she accepted the play and settled terms.

A little later I went to Leeds, where she was playing, and read the play to her and her "Company." We discussed the cast, and I suggested Mr.Kerr to play Mr.Daventry.

Mrs.Patrick Campbell jumped at the idea, and everything was settled.
I wrote the good news to Oscar, and back came another letter from him, more ill-tempered than the first, saying he had never thought I would take his scenario; I had no right to touch it; but as I had taken it, I must really pay him something substantial.
The claim was absurd, but I hated to dispute with him or even appear to bargain.
I wrote to him that if I made anything out of the play I would send him some more money.

He replied that he was sure my play would be a failure; but I ought to get a good sum down in advance of royalties from Mrs.
Patrick Campbell, and at once send him half of it.